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Students at Pella Christian Grade School completed this year’s round of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills on Monday. David Te Grotenhuis, Curriculum Coordinator at Pella Christian Grade School says while the tests are an important academic measuring tool, it’s still important to compare the test data with what is already going on in the classroom.

“It’s one piece of data at one moment in time, and we have to be careful that we don’t put too much stake into those test results,” said Te Grotenhuis. “You’re looking for echoes; those test results should line-up with what teachers are seeing in the classroom.”

Te Grotenhuis says once the results are in, the staff works together to see what areas need improvement and form a plan to meet specific goals for next year.

“We set goals each year for the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in math reading and science,” said Te Grotenhuis. “Using item analysis, we identify weaknesses, we set the goal [for next year] and then we develop strategies that we’re going to use to meet those target goals.”

While students at Pella Christian Grade School have historically scored within the 96th to 99th percentile in the state, Te Grotenhuis adds that the test results still help him and other educators to design a curriculum intended to continually improve the education at Pella Christian Grade School.